Ras Laffan, 80km north of the Qatari capital Doha, aims to be the world’s leading port for liquefied natural gas (LNG), as Qatar becomes the biggest LNG exporter by 2012.
To achieve this, Halcrow has helped the port to develop its infrastructure and marine facilities, including new berths, pipe-racks and onshore systems.
Ahead of Halcrow’s appointment a masterplan was prepared for the port that identified the facilities required to accommodate the volume of traffic expected up to the year 2024. This massive LNG port expansion covers an area of 51 sq km, and substantially increases the volume of LNG and liquid product exports.
It also takes into account expansion requirements for export and/or import of dry cargo, containers, general cargo, and various forms of construction cargo.
Halcrow prepared the front end engineering design (FEED) package and engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) bidding document for the £1.3 billion expansion, based on the master plan. Our scope of work included five new LNG berths, 10 liquid product and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) berths, four small tanker berths, navy/coastguard and tug berths, container export berths and onshore infrastructure including electrical power distribution, fire protection, telecoms, roads, drainage and more than 60 buildings
The ongoing development and expansion of the port is of key strategic importance to the Qatari government. Its stated vision is: “To establish Ras Laffan as a world-class industrial city with a diversified industry base that simultaneously ensures competitive advantage for end-users and a solid economic future for the state of Qatar, while promoting responsible care of the environment.”